Ald. Sposato reports that Club Red ‘permanently closed’

The Club Red nightclub at 5415 W. Irving Park Road has permanently closed following a recent incident in which a 35-year-old man was shot while fleeing the club after a fight broke out there, according to Alderman Nicholas Sposato (38th).

Rowdy behavior associated with the club, which has operated under several names over the years, has sparked numerous complaints from residents. In the March 25 shooting a reported 12 to 16 gunshots were fired in a parking lot next to the club, and a week earlier police were called to the club in connection with another reported fight.

“It was decided (on April 4) at a meeting with me, 16th District police commander Bill Looney, city of Chicago assistant corporation counsel Lindsay Baker and Club Red’s owner and her attorney that the club would permanently close and not re-open.

”I realize that this establishment has been a source of consternation for area residents for many years. Since I became 38th Ward alderman 3 years ago, it became apparent that this situation needed to be addressed for the good of our neighborhood,” Sposato said in the ward’s newsletter.

Sposato said in an interview that he would “not allow” another club to open there and that he expects the owner will be selling the property. “(The owner) is going to walk away. It was a good meeting. She was very apologetic,” he said. “The agreement was you shut down, and we won’t go after you (with significant fines).”

The owner told city officials that she would be canceling club events that were scheduled for April, and representatives for the club and city are expected to formalize the club’s closing in writing, Looney said. It was reported at the meeting that a licensing citation is pending against the club for an earlier incident, he said.